Pet Training

Problems? Let us help solve them! We offer training that is gentle, effective and fast! All of our trainers are professional level members of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers.

Relief from the frustrations of raising a puppy!

6-week Group Classes, Includes Pet Parents

That cute little puppy got you chasing your tail? We’ll help you survive (and enjoy) puppyhood and help you grow your pup into the well-behaved adult companion you look forward to.

Basic Skills

Get your pup focused and following your direction.

Problem Solving

Make short work of house training, stop puppy from using you – and your furniture – as chew toys.

Problem Prevention

Ensure your pup grows into a dog your can truly enjoy – friendly, relaxed, well-behaved, and fun!

Details

First meeting is an orientation, without puppies. We’ll discuss puppy problems and solutions (playbiting, house training, etc), goals for class, what to bring, and more.

Oceanside/Carlsbad

Classes Start: October 12, 2023 (First class is orientation without puppies.)
Last Class: November 16, 2023
Classes: Thursdays, 5:30 – 6:30pm

Instructor: Rurik Vigo, member Association of Professional Dog Trainers

Call 760 941-3221 for more information.

Encinitas

Classes Start: October 14, 2023 (First class an orientation without puppies)
Last Class: November 25, 2023
Classes: Saturdays, 5:15 – 6:15pm

Instructors: Daniel Ramirez, Rurik Vigo, members Association of Professional Dog Trainers

Call 760-753-9366 for more information.

Poway

Classes Start: TBA
Last Class: TBA
Classes: TBA

Instructor: Justin Webster, CPDT-KA, member Association of Professional Dog Trainers
Instructor: Garrett Rebarchek

Call 858-748-9676 for more information.

Civilizing your teenage or adult dog

6-week Group Classes, Includes Pet Parents

Are you frustrated? Dealing with leash pulling? Jumping Up? Not coming back when you call him? We can help!

Basic Skills

Loose leash walking, focus, stay, come, and more!

Problem Solving

Barking, pulling, jumping up? We’ve got your back!

Problem Prevention

Learn how dogs learn – prevent problems BEFORE they occur.

Details

First meeting is an orientation, without dogs. We’ll discuss problems and solutions, goals for class, what to bring, and more.

Oceanside/Carlsbad

Classes Start: October 12, 2023 (First class is orientation without puppies.)
Last Class: November 16, 2023
Classes: Thursdays, 6:45 – 7:45pm

Instructor: Rurik Vigo, member Association of Professional Dog Trainers

Call 760 941-3221 for more information.

Encinitas

Classes Start: October 14, 2023 (First class an orientation without puppies)
Last Class: November 25, 2023
Classes: Saturdays, 4:00 – 5:00pm

Instructors: Daniel Ramirez, Rurik Vigo, members Association of Professional Dog Trainers

Call 760-753-9366 for more information.

Poway

Classes Start: TBA
Last Class: TBA
Classes: TBA

Instructor: Justin Webster, CPDT-KA, member Association of Professional Dog Trainers
Instructor: Garrett Rebarchek

Call 858-748-9676 for more information.

6-week Group Classes, Includes Pet Parents

Have your dog become more confident, increase exercise and enrichment, practice off leash control and increase your bond with your dog, all while having fun doing tunnels and jumps and weave poles and more.

First meeting for each class is an orientation for pet parents only (without dogs).

Oceanside/Carlsbad

Agility For Fun

Classes Start: TBA
Last Class: TBA
Classes: TBA

Agility Two

When you and your dog have had so much… well… FUN in Agility for Fun, that you want to go on, there is Agility 2! More obstacles, more skills, more distance handling, more fun for you and your dog!

Cost of private daycare included.

Drop your dog off in the morning, and he goes home with you that night, just a little wiser! An especially nice choice if your dog is already coming to The Animal Keeper  for Camp or Daycare.

Day School is available in packages of 10, 15 or 20 lessons. Fill out the Training Intake Interview Form, and schedule a meeting with the training staff, and we will individualize a program for you and your dog.

You will get periodic report cards about our dog’s progress, and you will meet with your trainer weekly (or as scheduled) for a Transfer of Skills session.

Combines Comfy Boarding and Training

Your dog stays with us for 20 days, enjoying the excellent care we are famous for, while your trainer, a professional level member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, works with him using modern, gentle and effective training methods.

The trainer will teach your dog all the basic skills: Loose leash walking, Sit and Down on word and signal, Sit-Stay, Down Stay, Come when Called, and Leave It, working with your dog in a variety of environments, to proof the behaviors against distraction.

When it is time for your dog to go home, you will meet with your trainer, so he or she can demonstrate the skills your dog has learned, and coach you as you take over the reins. You will also go home with a training handbook and DVD of the skills and tools necessary to maintain the training – courtesy of The Animal Keeper Academy.

Offered only after the completion of a 10, 15, or 20 Day School package or with the full purchase of classroom training.

Justin Webster, CPDT-KA – Trainer Animal Keeper Poway

Professional Level Member of The Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed).

Justin first joined the Animal Keeper Poway team in 2010. He has always been a lover of dogs and all animals.

Justin had previously spent time working at a retreat where he got to work with Zebras and other kinds of wild animals – an unforgettable and valuable experience!

He became interested in dog training after coming to The Animal Keeper and becoming a camp counselor. He attended the Animal Keeper Academy, and with work and study, certified as a CPDT-KA via the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.

In addition to being a skilled positive reinforcement trainer and problem solver, Justin is also a Camp Counselor. He finds that the two skills sets support and enhance one another.

Justin currently has a large menagerie of dogs including: Lady (pit bull mix), Kingston (pit bull mix), Mitch (pit bull mix), and Billie (shiba inu mix).

Garrett Rebarchek – Trainer The Animal Keeper Poway

Garrett is originally from San Diego but has traveled all around the world studying animal behavior. He has grown up around all kinds of unique animals and it is with animals that his passion lives. Garrett has a B.S. in biology from Regis University in Denver Colorado. Garrett found his passion for animal training while studying under the master animal trainers at the San Diego Zoo. Garrett loves to improve the lives of the animals he trains and their human companions through training.

Edgar Mayoral – Trainer Animal Keeper Encinitas

Professional Level Member of The Association of Professional Dog Trainers

Edgar enjoys teaching dogs and coaching their human families. He especially enjoys helping children build a bond with their pet. Edgar is also a great problem solver – he specializes in helping dogs who pull on leash and demonstrate dog-dog reactivity to develop focus and self control. He is the lead trainer at The Animal Keeper Encinitas.

Eric Jones – Trainer The Animal Keeper Oceanside

Eric started learning about, and from, dogs early, as his family bred Golden Retrievers. He has been passionate about dogs ever since, spending hundreds of hours refining his training craft, including as a student at the Animal Behavior College.

Eric notes that the most rewarding part of the job is not the paycheck but the appreciation he gets from families. He says, “Making a difference in the family’s home with their loved one is super important.”

Eric is a Professional Level member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers.

Rurik Dominguez – Trainer The Animal Keeper Encinitas

Rurik is originally from California, but initially learned his craft through a high quality program at Ashworth College, then worked as lead dog trainer for a period of 4 years at Hometown Bed and Biscuits in VA, working with Aggression and Reactivity as well as basic skills.

Having returned to California, he found a natural home at The Animal Keeper where he continues his passion to work with dogs and their people to build a stronger bond through training.

Rurik is a Professional Level member of the APDT, the Association of Professional Dog Trainers.

Daniel Ramirez – Trainer The Animal Keeper Encinitas

Daniel was born and raised here in beautiful North County San Diego. He found his love for animals at a very early age. Pursuing that passion has led him to exploring the veterinary field, majoring in Wildlife Sciences at a local College, studying canine behavior and becoming a trainer at The Animal Keeper.

Penelope Milne – CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA

Charter Member Association of Professional Dog Trainers

Penelope has been training dogs and coaching their people for more than 30 years. She is a charter member of the APDT (Association of Professional Dog Trainers), an AKC CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Evaluator and has earned the CPDT-KSA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge and Skills Assessed) and CBCC-KA (Certified Behavior Consultant Canine – Knowledge Assessed) from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). Penny served two terms on the Board of Directors of the CCPDT, acting as Exam Chair. She is the author of: “Puppies! Why Do They Do What They Do?” and “Kittens! Why Do They Do What They Do?” from BowTie Press, and “Is your Dog Bored?” in the 2012 Dogs USA, amongst other works.

Penny is the Training Director for the Animal Keeper /Pet Suites, responsible for coaching staff on animal behavior, body language and more, and creating and implementing training and enrichment programs to enhance the quality of life for pets and people.

For more information regarding pet training, please contact your nearest The Animal Keeper location.